Brett, Simon

A former department store Father Christmas, BBC radio and ITV television producer, Simon Brett has been a full-time writer for over thirty years. He has published more than eighty books, including the Charles Paris, Mrs Pargeter, Fethering and Blotto & Twinks series of crime novels. His stand-alone psychological thriller A Shock to the System was made into a feature film starring Michael Caine, and Dead Romantic was filmed for BBC2. Simon's humorous books include the best-selling How to be a Little Sod, which was adapted for television. He has edited Faber anthologies of Useful Verse, Parodies and Diaries. His work for radio has included Dear Diary, Smelling of Roses, No Commitments and After Henry, which was also successful on television. Charles Paris is having a new life on Radio 4, with Bill Nighy in the role of the actor/detective. Simon Brett is a former Chair of the Crime Writers' Association and the Society of Authors; and currently President of the Detection Club. He has three grown-up children and two grandchildren, and lives with his wife Lucy in West Sussex. His hobby is enthusiastic but incompetent Real Tennis.